The caracal is a medium-sized cat with uniform pale reddish-brown fur, and no distinctive markings on its coat. Its unique feature is the highly conspicuous and enormous ears, which bear a 5cm black tuft of hair at their tips. These hairy appendages designed to function like a pair of mobile radars, are very sensitive to the softest sounds of nocturnal prey. The ears, which signal the caracal’s moods and intentions, twitch rapidly whenever the animal is agitated.

Also known as the “desert lynx”, the caracal is found in the savanna, dry woodlands, grasslands and scrubs of Africa and parts of Asia. It is very fast in its movements. By employing a stalk-and-spring technique, it can hurt birds, rodents and even small antelopes. Its long legs are capable of making high twisting leaps into the air, enabling the cat to strike down flying birds with its powerful paws.

Like the cheetah, the caracal is tamable and has even been used as human’s hunting companion. In the past, Indian rulers have kept packs to hunt peafowl.